Easy Yeast Rolls

We promise you will feel like a pro after making these yeast rolls. This is one of our best bread recipes. But if you are still looking for a quicker recipe, check out our no yeast dinner rolls recipe.

Our cheese stuffed Turkish rolls pogaca are usually on high demand at gatherings. But when we want something simpler but as good, we go for these yeast dinner rolls. And when we need a super quick bread, we go with our super easy no yeast bread loaf.

Why We Like This Recipe

• It’s absolutely a must-have. First of all, making your own dinner rolls gives you a great feeling. Plus, it is healthier as the packed ones has additives and more sugar.
• These are pillowy soft. You just don't want to stop eating them.
• They are sooo handy. You can have them with soups or as a side dish with almost any meal. We like to make these especially when we are having some guests over for dinner because one batch can definitely feed a crowd.
• They also make great after school snacks the next day. Or just spread some jam and butter or make mini sandwiches with cheese or whatever ingredients you have and put them in the lunch box.
• You can easily reheat or freeze the leftovers.

How To Make

1. Prepare the ingredients: To make the yeast mixture, whisk together warm water, instant yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Wait for 5 minutes. Although this step is not necessary for this type of yeast and you can just whisk it together with flour, we find it works even better when mixed together with warm water first.
2. Measure the flour: A cup of flour weighs about 125 grams. When you don’t have a kitchen scale, use a measuring cup. Stir the flour in the container first and spoon it into the cup. Shaking or pressing it down might cause wrong amount of flour. After filling the cup with flour, level off the top using a knife.
3. Heat the milk until it gets lukewarm. It shouldn't be too hot, be careful. If it is too hot to touch with your finger, cool it down a bit.

4. Melt the butter and let it slightly cool.

5. Make the dough. Now at this step you can use one of the following two methods:

•  Method 1 (Kneading with hands): Combine flour, salt, milk and butter in a large bowl. Then pour the yeast mixture in the large bowl and combine everything using your hands. Now, knead it with your hands right in the bowl. You should wet your fingers with a little water occasionally so that the dough doesn't stick. Keep kneading until you have a smooth but slightly sticky dough.
• Method 2 (Using Stand Mixer): Put flour, salt, milk and melted butter in the bowl of your stand mixer. Then pour the yeast mixture over them. Now beat using the dough hook or paddle attachment of your stand mixer on low speed until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides. Keep beating for 1-2 minutes until you have a smooth and slightly sticky dough.

6. Make the first rise: Transfer the dough you have prepared into a large bowl that is slightly greased. Make sure it is not greased only at the bottom but all the sides inside. Now cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for 1 hour to rise.

When the dough doubles in size, punch it down to release the air.

7. Shape the dough: Now transfer the dough on the slightly floured counter and shape it into a log. Cut it into 12 slices. Roll each into a ball and place them in a 9x13 baking pan that is lined with parchment paper.

8. Make the second rise: Now cover the baking sheet with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the rolls rise, at least for 40 minutes.
9. Bake the rolls for 15-20 minutes or until golden at 375F/190C preheat oven.

10. Brush the rolls with melted butter when they are still hot and let them cool for about 10 minutes before serving. This is an extra step that gives the rolls a wonderful shiny look.

Expert Tips

• All the ingredients should be warm or at room temperature. This is very important when making something with yeast.
• The consistency of the dough is very important. It should not be too tough or too loose.
• Giving enough time to the dough to rise properly is very important.
• The temperature where you wait the dough is very important. Put it in a warm and draft-free place. Make sure it’s not a cool or cold place like the balcony. Or don’t leave the windows open, especially in cool weathers. Otherwise your dough won't rise.
• Punching the dough after the first rise is important. Yeast causes some gas as it rises. After the first rise, release the air out of the dough by punching it down to get rid of that gas. This will also relaxes the gluten and the dough has a better texture. 

About Rising Twice

Why is rising bread dough twice essential? As most of the yeast bread recipes, this one requires rising the dough twice. The main reason for this is that we want a nice texture inside our bread rolls. We punch it down and release the air after the first rise. So the second rise will help the rolls get wonderfully fluffy. In addition, you will have a more developed flavour thanks to the second rise.

What do you cover dough with when rising? You can use a piece of cloth, a towel, foil or a plastic wrap.

Can you speed up dough rising? Yes you can. Warm and moist environment can speed up dough rising. There are two small tricks you can try:

1. You can rinse a towel or a cloth in warm water and you can cover your dough with this damp towel. Your towel should be wet but no dripping waters should come from it. Let it rise for 30-40 minutes.
2. You can also rise your dough faster in a microwave. Put a glass of water in your microwave (make sure the glass is heat-resistant). Turn on your microwave and heat the water for 2 minutes. Then do not remove the glass, but put your dough in a small bowl in the microwave, as well. Do not turn on the microwave. Let the dough get the warmth of the microwave and the moist from the water for around 30-40 mins.

How To Reheat

There are two great ways to reheat the leftover dinner rolls:

1. In the oven: This is my favorite method because I think it works better because it takes a bit longer. Preheat the oven at 350F/175C. Put the rolls in a baking pan. They can overlap, which is better indeed. This helps preventing the rolls from drying. Alternatively, you can wrap each roll in foil and place on a baking sheet. Heat for 5-7 minutes.
2. In the microwave: Place the rolls on a plate that is heat-safe. Cover the rolls with a damp kitchen towel and then wrap the whole plate with a dry kitchen towel so that the rolls are completely covered. Heat for 30 seconds. 

How To Freeze

They can definitely be frozen but make sure they do not stay in the freezer more than one month. The taste won’t be as good after one month. Put them in storage bags or air-tight containers and store in the freezer. When you need them, take them out and thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then you can reheat them using one of the methods mentioned above and there you go. Your dinner rolls are ready.

Serving Suggestions

These homemade dinner rolls pair wonderfully with comforting soups. Here are a few soup recipes you can make to serve them with:

• Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup
• Carrot Tomato Soup
• Fresh Tomato Soup
• Old Fashioned Cabbage Soup

Frequently Asked Questions

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